LEST WE FORGET
Squadron Leader Sydney George WELSHMAN DFM
Service No: 402554
Born: Gloucestershire, England, 22 January 1916
Enlisted in the RAAF: 16 September 1940 (at Sydney NSW)
Unit: No. 450 Squadron
Awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM), 27 March 1942
Died: Air Operations: (No. 450 Squadron Kittyhawk aircraft ER543), Lanciano Italy, 1 December 1943, Aged 27 Years
Buried: Sangro River War Cemetery, Italy
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Frederick William and Nellie Welshman, of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 105, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
DFM Citation (for service with Strategic Reconnaissance Unit RAF): “Sergeant Welshman was the pilot of an aircraft on reconnaissance on 3March 1942. Whilst preparing to make a run over Benghazi at 2,000 feet, the standing enemy patrol was observed all 5,000 feet. Sergeant Welshman decided to attempt the run as no photographs had been obtained the previous day. On reaching the target area the aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire, part of the ailerons being shot away. In spite of this damage, Sgt Welshman continued the run and was immediately attacked by two Me109Fs, causing further damage to the aircraft. Having completed the photographic run, he dived the aircraft landward, and although badly damaged, shook off the attackers by seeking cloud cover. On emerging from the clouds at Zniet Msus, a further attack lasting 20 minutes was made by another Me109F. By exemplary coolness and skill, Sergeant Welshman managed to save the aircraft and crew and returned to base with valuable information.” (London Gazette 27 March 1942, Air 2/4782)
On 1 December 1943, Kittyhawk ER543 flown by Squadron Leader Welshman was one of six aircraft that took off at 0710 hours from Mileni landing ground detailed to bomb forward positions near Lanciano, Italy. The target was successfully bombed and all aircraft strafed the target in the bomb dive. After bombing, Squadron Leader Welshman attempted to do a tight turn at high speed, and the aircraft developed a high speed stall. It then flicked on its back and spun in from 2,000 feet, bursting into flames on impact and Squadron Leader Welshman was killed.
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records (RAAF Casualty Information compiled by Alan Storr (409804))
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/43/432
Bibliography:
Winter, V.A. (Vincent Adams) (408547) Noble Six Hundred: the story of the Empire Air Training Scheme with special reference to Australians who trained in Southern Rhodesia, V.A. Winter Brighton VIC 3186